Grapple.



0. T. GREGG.

GRAPPLE.'

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, |914. Q 9596; Patented July 3, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

0. T. GHEGG.

GHAPPLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9. 1914. Lm, Patented .my 3, 19W.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0. T. GREGG.

GRAPPLE. www,

APPLICATION FILED DEC.9. |914.

Patented July 3, 1917n 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

0. T. GREGG.

GRAPPLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC9| i914.

Patented July 3, 1917.

4 ShETS-SHEET 4.

i es yfinden OTIS TIFFANY GREGG, 0F HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, TO THE GREGG COM- PANY, LIMITED, 0F HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

GEAPPLE.

resinas.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3', i917..

Application led December 9, 1914.' Serial No. 876,235.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Oris TIFFANY Grece, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hackensack, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grapples; and I do declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

My invention relates to grapples for lifting sugar cane or other bodies, and has for its primary object to provide a construction embodying a system of levers through which, in lifting the grapple, pressure will be exerted on the grappling lingers or teeth to cause one set to move toward an oppositely disposed set so that the two sets will hold fast to the body which is grappled; also to provide a construction in which the limit or extent of downward movement of the main shaft or journal of the :lingers or teeth in the open position of the grapple will be controlled by a stop extending from the main shaft to a point in the path of a rod connecting the series of fingers or teeth so as to engage with said rod and support the main shaft therefrom, and thus insuring the lingers or teeth standing in the most advantageous position for engaging or grasping the body to be grappled; also to provideV means for limiting or restricting the inward movement of the two sets of grappling fingers or teeth toward each other so that when the lingers or teeth have sufficiently closed over the body grappled to securely hold the same they will be held against farther inward movement and thus undue compression of the body prevented; also to provide means for supporting the rods connecting the series of lingers or teeth upon releasing the main shaft so that it may drop for the purpose of opening the grapple to discharge the load or body grappled; also to provide means for limiting the drop of the main shaft in opening the grapple so as to restrain undue outward and upward movement of the ngers or teeth beyond the position, approximately, best adapted for the next. grapplin operation.

To the accomp lshment of the foregoing and such other objects as vmay hereinafter appear, and to provide a strong durable and eliicient grapple, the invention consists in the features hereinafter particularly described and then sought to be clearly defined by the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and in which- Figure l is a front view showing the parts of the grapple in position for grappling and hoisting a load;

Fig. 2 a similar View showing position of parts after hoisting, and ready for discharging the load;

Fig. 3 a similar view showing position of parts after discharging the load, and before assuming position to grapple another load;

Fig. 4, an end view of the grapple, open;

Figs. 5 and 6, detail views, enlarged, showing locked and unlocked positions, respectively, of levers;

Fig. 7 a detail View, partly sectioned, of link connection between levers and grapple fingers;

Fig. 8, a section in line -8 8 with parts omitted;

Fig. 9, a perspective of guide uprights for levers.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the main-shaft of the grapple on which the lingers or teeth 2, one set on each side thereof, are loosely mounted or journaled, and 3 designates two shafts or rods which pass through the fingers or teeth, one to each set, so as to connect together the serieK f lingers or teeth of each set, each tooth being secured to its shaft or rod by a set screw or bolt 4f. From the central portion of the main-shaft rises a yoke 5, the two upright parallel members of which are spaced apart and formed each with a vertical slot 6, and to the yoke is bolted a plate 5a which extends substantially the height of the yoke and is slotted to correspond to the space between the upright members of the yoke. Extending crosswise of the yoke, which constitutes an upright frame, are two levers 7, one crossing the other and both passing between the parallel upright members of the yoke. Each lever is fulcrumed on a short shaft or pin 8 passing through both levers and beyond the sides of the levers carrying blocks or shoulders 8a, preferably of angular formation in cross section, which pass through and are capable of vertical movement in the slots of sitely disposed rods 3.

The outer ends of the levers by struts 9 with the oppo- The preferred manner of connecting the Vupper end s of the struts to the levers is by ears 10 pivoted by rivets or otherwise to the levers, to which ears the struts have a pivotal or hinged connection by bolts 11, while the lower ends of the struts are connected to the rods 3 by collars 12 through which and the ends of the struts bolts 13 are passed, the heads of which bolts are preferably formed with e es 14 for the attachment of chains hereina ter described. The inner ends of the levers 7 are pivotally connected by bolts 15 to hangers 16 supported from a cross-beam 17, which is preferably an I beam in cross section. The upper ends of the hangers are prefer ably bent around the cross-beam and secured thereto by bolts 18, and angle-plates 19 may be bolted to the cross-beam next to the hangers so as torprevent swinging or swaying of the hangers and cross-beam 17.

Mounted upon the main-shaft 1, at opposite ends thereof, are trusses 20 which at their upper ends extend above and over the finger connecting rods 3 so as to rest upon said rods and support the main-shaft therefrom when the fingers are in position for engagement with the load or body to be lifted at the beginning of the lifting operation. This prevents the main-shaft from dropping below the position or level which would throw the fingers outward and upward beyond the best position for prompt and efficient engagement with the load pre paratory to its lifting.

Chains 21 are connected at one end with the trusses 20 as shown, and at the other end with U shaped loops 22 which pass up through the cross-beam 17 and have their upper ends encircled by coiled springs 23 which rest upon the cross-beam and have bearing plates 24 resting on their upper ends and held in place by nuts 25 screwed onto the ends of the loops. Other chains 26 are connected at one end with the rods 3, as shown, and at the. other end with the loops 22, and when the weight of the grapple is thrown upon the chains it is sup orted under a spring tension. The function of the uprights. are connected 'these chains will be stated further on.

To the lower portion of the yoke frame or uprights 5 are catches 27 pivoted thereto by bolts 28 and which will make locking engagement with the fulcrum pin of the two levers when the latter are in their loWermost position. These catches are held in locking position by springs 29 connected at one end to angle-plates 30 bolted to the catches and passing through openings in the plate 5 and having their ends connected to eye-bolts 31 secured by lock-nuts to a housing or cap 32 bolted to the plate. A trip yoke 33 is pivotally connected to the catches 27 by bolts 34 with its ends in line with the uprightsv 5 and isdesigned to have a pull-rope or cable attached thereto so that by pulling on it the catches may be disengaged from locking engagement with the fulcrum pin when the load is tobe discharged as hereafter described.

On the cross-beam 17 is mounted a sheave 35 for a rope or cable by which the grapple may be raised and lowered, the frame 36 of the sheave being connected to a bracket 37 by a pin 38.

The operation of the grapple is as follows:-

Assuming that the grapple is resting on the load in readiness to hoist the same, the catches 27 will be in locking engagement with the fulcrum pin 8 of the two levers 7, and the trusses 20 will be' resting on the finger connecting rods 3 so that the fingers or teeth 2 will stand as indicated in'Fig. '1 in the proper position to pass under the load as the grapple is lifted, and the several chains 21 and 26 will be slack as indicated. Now, on lifting the grapple by power derived through the lifting cable which will pass aroundthe sheave 35, the main-shaft 1 will be lifted through the levers 7, and at the same time the levers through their strut connections with the finger connecting rods 3 will exert a downward pressure on the fingers so that they will be caused to squeeze or tightly grip the load, the heavier the load the tighter the grip of the fingers thereon.

On the load being hoisted the position of the arts will be substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the fingers or teeth encircling the load (not shown) and the chains 26, which are now taut, holding the teeth from being thrown farther inward and exerting undue compression on the load, while the levers continue to exert their pressure on the fingers and load; the chains 21 being still slack.

The load having been brought to the point or place for its discharge, the trip yoke 33 is actuated, with its ends bearing against the uprights 5, so as to pull back the catches 27 from locking engagement with the fulcrum pin 8 of the levers 7, thus releasing the levers, whereupon the main-shaft 1, by reason of its weight and gravity, will drop and throw the fingers 2 outward so as to open the grapple for the discharge of the load, the chains 26 being still taut supporting the fingers through their connecting rods so that the main-shaft may drop below their axes and thus throw open the grapple; at

substantially in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, whereupon the crossbeain and associated parts of the grapple are lowered-with the outer ends of the fingers resting uponA the next load. The cross` beam is then further lowered so as to bring the fulcrum pin into locking engagement with the catches and the parts then appear as in Fig. l with the trusses 20 resting on the finger connecting rods 3, and the several chains having slack, with the grapple in position for engaging and hoisting the load as in the first instance.-

I have illustrated and described with particularity the preferred details of the several parts of the grapple but-changes may be made therein and essential features of the invention be retained.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim is l. In a rapple, a main-shaft carrying grappling ngers, a pair of crossed levers extending longitudinally of and connected with the main-shaft and having one end connected with the grappling fingers, and means operatively connected with the other end of the levers to lift the main-shaft and actuate the levers to exert a downward pressure on the fingers in hoisting a load.

Q. In a grapple, a main-shaft carrying grappling lingers, a pair of crossed levers extending longitudinally of and connected with the main-shaft and having one end conV` nected with the grappling fingers, means operatively connected with the other end of the levers to lift the main-shaft and actu-ate the levers to exert a downward pressure on the fingers in hoisting a load, and means to sustain the main-shaft in its lowered position to limit the outward movement of the grappling fingers.

3. In a orapple, a main-shaft carrying grappling ngers, a pair of crossed levers extending longitudinally of and connected with the main-sliaft and having one end connected with the grappling fingers, means operatively connected with' the other end of the levers to lift the main-sliaft and actuate the levers to exert a downward pressure on the fingers in hoisting a load, and means to sustain the grappling fingers in lowering the inain-shaft to open the grapple for the discharge of the load.

4. In a grapple, a niain-shaft carrying grappling fingers, a pair of crossed levers extending longitudinally of and connected with the maiii-shaft and having one end connected with the grappling fingers, means operatively connected with the other end of the levers to lift the main-shaft and actuate the levers to exert a downward pressure on the fingers in hoisting a load, and means to cheek the descent of the main-sliaft and its influence on the grappling fingers in opening the grapple for the discharge of a load.

5. In a'grapple, a main-shaft carrying grappling fingers positioned along opposite sides of the shaft, levers having strut con- Vnections with the fingers along opposite Sides of the main-shaft and connected with the main-shaft, and means for actuating said levers to lift the main-shaft and exerta downward pressure on the fingers.

6. In a grapple, a main-shaft carrying grappling fingers positioned along opposite sides of the shaft, levers havingstrut connections with the fingers along opposite sides of the main-shaft and a detachable. con nection with the main-shaft, means for actuating said levers to lift the inain-sliaft and exert a. downward pressure on the fingers to close the fingers, and means for releasing the connection between the levers and inaini shaft to permit the descent of the main shaft in openinfr the fingers.

'7. In a grapp e`- a main-shaft carrying fingers positioned along opposite sides of the shaft, levers having strut connections with the fingers along opposite sides of the mainshaft and connected `with the main-shaft, a movable cross-beam, and connections betweensaid beam and thel levers for actuatingthe levers to lift the main-shaft and exert a downward pressure of the levers onthe fingers.

8. In a grapple, a main-shaft carrying ir gers positioned along opposite sides of the' shaft, levers having strut connections with the fingers along opposite sides of the main-shaft and a detachable connection with the mainshaft, a movable cross-beam, means connecting the levers with the cross-beam to actuate the levers to lift the main-shaft and exert a downward pressure of the levers on the fingers in hoistinga load, 'and means for releasing the connection between the levers and mainshaft to permit descent of the mainshaft to open the grapple indischarging a load.

9. In a grapple, a main-shaft carrying fingers along opposite sides of the shaft, levers having strut connections with the fingers along opposite sides of the main-shaft and connected with the main-shaft, a movable. cross-beam, connections between the beam and levers for actuating the levers to lift the main-shaft and exert a downward pressure of the levers on the fingers in closing the grapple, and flexible connections between the cross-beam and fingers to limit movement of the fin ers in closing the grapple.

10. n a grapple, a main-shaft carrying fingers along opposite sides of the shaft, levers having strut connections with the fin gers along opposite sides of the main-shaft and a detachable connection with the mainshaft, a movable cross-beam, means connecting the levers with the cross-beani to actuate the levers to lift the main-shaft and exert downward pressure of the levers on the finllO gers in hoisting a load, means for releasing the connection between the levers and main- -shaft to permit descent of the main-shaft to open the grapple, and flexible connections between the cross-beam and main-shaft to check the descent of the main-shaft in opening the grapple.

11. In 'a grapple, a main-shaft carrying fingers along opposlte sides of the shaft, levers having strut connections with the iingers along opposite sides of the main-shaft and a detachable connection with the mainshaft,a movable cross-beam, means connecting the levers with the cross-beam to actuate i fingers along opposite sides thereof, slotted the levers to lift the main-shaft and exert downward pressure of the levers on the fingers inq hoisting a load, means for releasing the connection between the levers and mainshaft to permit descent of the shaft to open the grapple, and flexible connections between the cross-beam and fingers andmainshaft, said connections having an elastic support from the cross-beam.

` 12. In a grapple, a main-shaft carrying fingers along opposite sides of the shaft, rods connecting together the fingers along opposite sides of the main shaft, a movable crossbeam, trusses connected with the main-shaft and overlying the connecting rods of the fingers to bear thereon and sustain the mainshaft when the fingers are in position for grappling engagement with a load, a crossbeam, levers connected with the main-shaft and lingers, and means connecting the levers with the cross-beam for actuating the levers in movement of the cross-beam.

13. In a grapple, a main-shaft carrying fingers along opposite sides thereof, slotted uprights supported from. the main-shaft, levers having a fulcrum-pin slidable in the slotsof the uprights,l struts connecting the levers with the fingers, means for holding engagement between the levers and uprights, and means for releasing said holding means.

14. In a grapple', a main-shaft carrying prights supported from the main-shaft, levers connected with the fingers and having a fulcrum-pin slidable in the slots of the uprights, pivotal catches to engage the fulcrum-pin ofthe levers to ulcrum the levers, and means associated with the catches to release connection between the catches' and ful? crum-pin to permit movement of the uprights and main-shaft relatively to the levers. v In testimony whereof I aiix my signature inV presence of two witnesses.

OTIS TIFFANY GREGG. Witnesses:

C. M. Fomznsr, WM. G. HENDERSON. 

